Christmas ... more radical than we think

Recently someone brought up the concept of being “radical.” There is an influx of books being written in the Christian genre that are encouraging and sometimes demanding a radical approach to our faith. Often it leaves a few wondering about their faith.

The “radical” movement means well. Often Christian authors are writing in response to what is perceived as a deficiency in our faith. Sometimes the writers are correct. The only problem is they tend to place the “radical” faith response on the wrong object. Let’s face it, we can be radical but it will not take long till our radical moments diminish into a legalistic, fear generated faith.

The object of the movement is on man’s reaction to the gospel. The motivation of the movement is not the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives but rather on a determined response that declares us “radical.” Just like the Promise Keepers movement we misplaced the emphasis. We are not the radical ones. We are not the promise keepers. Jesus is.

Jesus is the one who left the throne of the Father and gave his life for us. It was Jesus who healed the sick, forgave guilty adulterers and thieves. It was Jesus who always found the right words to say to the suffering. It was Jesus who bled out on a tree to be the sacrifice for our sins (past, present and future). It was Jesus who as God came as a man so we could relate to God.

The parables and stories Jesus told to make his points display not radical people but a radical God. We want people to be radical but we really don’t want a radical God. A radical God is not safe. He moves people to sacrifice, forgive and extend grace to others. It stirs our lives up. It takes control from us. It moves us to do things we always thought we were incapable of doing. It is not like we will climb Mt. Everest. It is radical to give our time to people who can’t seem to get out of their own way. It is radical to forgive the one who has stabbed us in the back. It is radical to give so others can experience a bit of God’s grace. It is radical to shut up and listen. It is radical to live knowing that God is the one to fear.

The radical Jesus entered man’s world in the form of a baby. That baby would transform all elements of faith. Instead of the law and man’s demands to be radical Jesus came in swaddling clothes to display God’s extremely radical grace. He is the fulfillment of what we cannot do, no matter how hard we try. We no longer have to be radical. He was and is radical.

Our call is to live because he is radical. No wonder Mary pondered the events of the birth of Jesus in her heart. It was radical beyond belief.

Comments are welcome, so long as they are civil. A Facebook account is required. Abuse may result in the commenter being permanently blocked. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove any comments at any time.